Help with dive operators in the Keys.

[TeqP]

Hi all,

I am planning a long weekend trip to the Keys in the beginning of October and would appreciate some insight of local dive operators in the Keys. Right now I am leaning towards using www.keydivers.com. The website gives some nice info on their dive sites and the prices seem reasonable.

Does anyone have other operators to recommend or can vouch for keydivers.com?

Thanks for the input,
Phil

 

[Scubakevdm]

Quiessence is my favorite.

 

[Walter]

Interesting. The shop you're leaning toward isn't in the Keys. It's in the Miami area. I dived with them a couple months ago. I wasn't very pleased. Crowded boat, inadequate dive briefing, not a professionally run operation, IMHO.

Divers City is always a good choice in the Tavernier area. They are very pleasant, have a 30 ft Island Hopper and limit the load to 10 divers. They are also happy to take you to some of the sites that other operators never visit.

What part of the Keys do you want to visit?

 

[TeqP]

Walter,

I'm sorry, that was a typo. I meant www.keydives.com. They are located on Overseas Hwy. I will check out Divers City.

As far as what part of the Keys I want to visit. I don't have a preference. The only reasons for going are to do some diving over a long weekend and miss a couple of days from work.
Based on your experience, do you recommend any particular part of the keys?

Thanks,
Phil

 

[archman]

I like to go with Underseas out of Big Pine Key. They go to Looe Key primarily. Nice boat, nice shop, nice people.

 

[GoBlue!]

Marathon: Capt. Banny Thorne

Lower Keys: Capt. Jim Wyatt

Jim

 

[back40]

Island Ventures out of Key Largo has alway catered to ScubaBoard members. They have two boats and usually let the divers pick where they want to dive, also they limit the number of divers. I have been very pleased with his operation.
back40

 

[expodave]

Hi all,

I am planning a long weekend trip to the Keys in the beginning of October and would appreciate some insight of local dive operators in the Keys. Right now I am leaning towards using www.keydivers.com. The website gives some nice info on their dive sites and the prices seem reasonable.

Does anyone have other operators to recommend or can vouch for keydivers.com?

Thanks for the input,
Phil

I have been diving the last couple of summers in the Keys. Amy Slates Amoray Divers in Key Largo is great. They will not disappoint. I have gone out on their boat about a dozen times. No bad experiances.

Tildens Dive Center at Hawks Cay is also very good. Two great dives there are the Gap about 80', and the Thunderbolt wreck which is 120' to the sand. I have about 6 trips with these people and no problems.

Key West is Southpoint Divers. They will take you to Joe's Tug 80' and the Caymen about 90' both good wrecks. I've been on this boat 8 times. Good crew, great boat.

I can vouch for the above. They all have great boats, good staff and seem professional.

I am going on Blackbeard's to Bimmini Oct 1. This should be a great trip.
Take Care.
expodave
Ke

 

[TeqP]

Thank you all for the recommendations. I am looking into all of them. As it stands right now, I am planning on staying in the Key Largo area, since I am flying into Miami of Fort Lauderdale. I am going to give Island Ventures a call tomorrow.
The thing I like about keydives is that they will dive with you if you choose. Since I am the only diver in my party, I would like that option.

A couple of questions: what thickness of wetsuit is worn in the keys, if at all? (I have a 7mm suit for Cailf). Second, are there any hotels you can recommend? I checked into the Hampton Inn ($235/nt) and the Sheraton ($197/nt). We would like to stay in a place that is nice and safe in the $100-200 range. Thanks for the input.

Phil

 

[CBulla]

I don't wear any wet suits at all if I can get away with it. On the occaisions I have, the water temp was below 70 degrees. I dove Deerfield Beach in January and had blistery 72 degree dives.